Dolly with removable jacking wheel units

ABSTRACT

Large objects which are difficult to handle, such as 14 to 26 foot boats, are secured to a base frame for shipment from the manufacturer to the dealer. The dealer attaches jacking wheel units converting the base frame into a dolly which may be readily wheeled into the dealer&#39;&#39;s show room or into a display area in a boat show. The base frame remains with the boat as a pallet until it is launched, supporting the boat substantially at floor level for most effective display. The wheel units are attached only for movement into or out of a display area or the lilke and are then removed for use on another base frame and boat.

United States Patent 1 Hunziker 1 Apr. 29, 1975 1 1 DOLLY WITH REMOVABLEJACKING WHEEL UNITS [76] Inventor: Louis A. Hunziker. 783 Commerce [52]US. Cl 214/512; 280/432; 254/7 R [51] Int. Cl B60 1/02 [58] Field ofSearch 24/243 B; 254/7;

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 401234 1909 France24/2432 Primary E.taminerR0bert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-H. GrantSkaggs Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Lee R. Schermerhorn [57] ABSTRACT Largeobjects which are difficult to handle, such as 14 to 26 foot boats, aresecured to a base frame for shipment from the manufacturer to thedealer. The dealer attaches jacking wheel units converting the baseframe into a dolly which may be readily wheeled into the dealers showroom or into a display area in a boat show. The base frame remains withthe boat as a pallet until it is launched. supporting the boatsubstantially at floor level for most effective display. The wheel unitsare attached only for movement into or out of a display area or thelilke and are then removed for use on another base frame and boat.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures DOLLY WITH REMOVABLE .IACKING WHEEL UNITSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dolly withremovable jacking wheel units for moving and displaying heavy objects.such as boats. the dolly having a base frame which serves as a palletwhen the wheel units are removed.

For example. 14 to 26 foot boats weighing from L000 to 4.000 pounds areusually shipped from the manufacturer to various dealers on highwaycargo trail ers. When the boat arrives at its destination. the dealer.according to conventional practice. must have available a crew ofworkmen to unload the boats either by fork lift or slings and a crane.There must also be available a boat trailer of appropriate size for eachboat or some other means for supporting the boats after they have beenlifted off the trailer. If the dealer does not have a work crew and theright combination of boat trailers immediately available. there isconfusion and loss of time in the unloading procedure adding to theexpense and inconvenience of the dealer as well as the highway truckerwhose departure is delayed.

More tedious work is required to get the boats on display in the dealersshow room. Automobile boat trailers are not favored for display purposesbecause of the height of the mounting and the valuable space occupied bythe trailer. So. again. the boat must be anloaded by some means andplaced on some suitable support that does not detract from the displayof the boat. When a boat is to be displayed in a boat show. the dealerfaces the same problems all over again. an automobile boat trailerusually being an undesirable support for display of a boat in a boatshow.

Objects of the invention are. therefore. to provide improved apparatusfor facilitating the shipment. handling and display of heavy objectssuch as boats. to provide a dolly frame which may remain with a boat asa compact and inconspicuous pallet during its shipment and display anduntil the boat is finally sold and launched. to provide a pallet framehaving conveniently attachable and removable wheels to convert thepallet into a dolly. and to provide an improved attachable wheel unithaving jacking means to raise a dolly frame off the floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the present device comprises adolly frame having removable jacking wheel units. When applied to boats.the dolly frame is secured to the boat by the manufacturer and remainswith the boat as a pallet until the boat is launched. Special clamps areprovided for securing the dolly frame as a pallet to highway trailers orother transportation vehicles for shipment with out resorting to theusual insecure blocking and rope or strap bindings.

When the shipment arrives at the dealer's premises. the boats and dollyframes are lifted off the transportation vehicle by a lift truck orcrane and sling and set on the ground or pavement. Wheel units equippedwith jacks are inserted in the dolly frame and the frameis lifted by thejacks sufficiently to permit the boat to be wheeled into the dealersshow room. Then the wheel units are removed. leaving the boat on displaysubstantially at floor level on the inconspicuous dolly frame. By merelyinserting the wheel units. the boats may be shifted about on the displayfloor from time to time as desired with very little effort. When a boatis to be displayed in a boat show. the foregoing operations arerepeated. requiring usually only a lift truck and a highway cargotrailer. with a minimum of manpower.

The invention will be better understood and the foregoing and otherobjects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment illustrated on the accompanyingdrawing. Various changes may be made in the details of construction andarrangement of parts and certain features may be used without others.All such modifications within the scope of the appended claims areincluded in the invention. Although the invention is illustrated anddescribed in connection with the shipment. handling and display of boatsby way of example. the broader aspects of the invention are not limitedto any particular type of goods or merchandise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of anapparatus embodying the invention. showing wheel units attached to adolly frame for a boat;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view. with parts broken away.showing an adjustable bottom rest for the stern of a boat on the dollyframe;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the dolly frame showing specialclamps for securing the dolly frame as a pallet to I-beams on a highwaycargo trailer:

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the special clamps in FIG. 3:

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cable guide which secures the bow ofthe boat to the dolly frame in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view. with parts broken away. showing one of thewheel units in FIG. I.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As illustrated in FIG. 1. thedolly comprises a frame A supporting the boat 8 and equipped with fourremovable wheel units C. Frame A comprises. essentially. a pair ofsquare tubular cross member beams 10 and II and a pair of square tubularlongitudinal member beams 12. Longitudinal members 12 have upright endportions 13 welded to the cross members 10 and II.

When wheel units C are removed. the cross members 10 and II are adaptedto rest on the floor and longitudinal members 12 are spaced above thefloor to permit a lift truck fork F to pass under the longitudinalmembers as shown in FIG. 3. Thus. frame A and boat B are adapted to bepicked up as a pallet load by a lift truck approaching from the side. orby a crane equipped with slings.

Frame A may be adapted to support various types of objects. For carryinga boat. the front cross member 10 has brackets 14 equipped with rests 15forming a V- shaped cradle to support the bow of the boat. At the stern.a longitudinal rest is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 2] on an upright22 at the end of each longitudinal member 12. The rests 20 adjustthemselves on pivots 2] to the angles of the bottom of the boat. thefront end of each rest having an adjustable length strut 23 connectedwith the adjacent longitudinal member 12. The back end of each rest 20is equipped with a handle loop 24 on an upstanding abutment 25 whichengages behind the transom of the boat.

The boat B is secured to frame A by suitable tic-down means forshipment. For example. at the how a pair of chains or cables areconnected between an eyebolt 31 and a pair of U-bolts 32 on the frontuprights 13. These connections may be made at other points on the frameA depending on the size and the shape of the boat. The chains or cables30 are tensioned by lever tighteners 33 and held Spaced away from thebottom of the boat by V-shaped spacers 34. At the stern similar chainsor cables 35 are tensioned between handles 24 and eyebolts 36 in thetransom.

FIG. 3 shows how the boat B and frame A with wheel units C removed aredeposited on a highway cargo trailer T for shipment. The lift truck forkF engaged under longitudinal frame members 12 lowers the frame and boatcausing cross members 10 and it to rest on a pair of longitudinall-beams 3) on the trailer. The cross members 10 and ll are secured tothe l-beams by special clamps 40. Thus. the frame A is rigidly securedat four points to the trailer T by the clamps 40 and the boat issecurely fastened at the four points 24. 24. 32. 32 to the frame A forlong distance and high speed travel. Dolly frame A serves as a pallet.

As shown in FIG. 4. each clamp 40 comprises a pair of C-shaped sidemembers 41 which are integral with opposite sides of a flat topintermediate portion 42. Side members 41 straddle the frame cross member10 or II and their lower ends are equipped with hardened protrusions 43which bite into the under side ofthe top flange of l-beam 39 to preventslippage. A clamp plate 45 is equipped with similar hardened protrusions46 to bite into the top surface of cross member 10 or ll. Clamp plate 45is swivel mounted on the lower end of a screw 47 which has threadedengagement with a tapped hole in top plate 42. By tightening the screw47 with a wrench. the plate 45 and protrusions 46 are forced downwardagainst the top surface of cross mem ber 10 or ll and the protrusions 43are pulled upward against the under surface of the top flange of thelbeam as shown.

When the boat reaches its destination. clamps 40 are removed and theboat B and frame A are lifted off the trailer T by a lift truck fork Fas shown in FIG. 3 or by a crane and sling. Then the boat and frame Aare lowcred until cross members 10 and 11 rest on the floor or pavement.Next. a wheel unit C is inserted in each end of each cross member 10 andIt on the periphery of frame A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

Each wheel unit C comprises a bent arm 50 having a lower horizontal end51 and an upper inclined end 52. the end Sl being insertable into thesocket opening in a cross member 10 or 1] while the latter is resting onthe floor. A nut 53 is welded in the upper extremity of inclined end 52.End 52 extends into a jack housing 55 and bears against an upper roller56 and a lower rol ler 57. A screw 60 engages the nut 53 and is equippedwith a crank handle 6| and a bearing 62 engaging the upper end ofhousing 55 as shown. Preferably. the upper end 52 of arm 50 makes anangle of about 135 with respect to lower end 5]. Housing 55 is equippedwith a carrying handle 63.

A pair of outstanding cross members 64 on opposite sides of housing 55is equipped with caster wheels 65 which have vertical swivel axes. Byrotating the crank handle 6] to pull nut 53 and arm 50 upward into thehousing 55. one corner of the frame A is raised off the floor. As soonas the weight of frame A and the boat is brought to bear on the wheelunit. frictional force holds the lower end SI of arm 50 securely in thecross member H] or 11 without requiring any fastening means. After allfour corners of the frame A have been lifted a few inches off the floor.the frame and boat may be wheeled into the dealers show room and placedin position for display.

Then the boat and frame A are lowered by cranks 61 until cross members10 and it rest on the floor. allow ing the wheel units C to be removed.The frame A supports the boat close to the floor in attractive displayposition and remains relatively inconspicuous. most of the frame beingdisposed underneath the boat. Frame A remains with the boat as a palletuntil the boat is sold and launched.

If the boat is to be taken from the dealers display room to a boat show.the wheel units C are attached and the boat is wheeled out to a highwaycargo trailer or other means of transportation. Then the wheel units Care removed and the boat and frame A are loaded on the transportationvehicle by a lift truck fork F as shown in FIG. 3. or by a crane andsling or other means. At the boat show the boat and frame A are removedfrom the trailer as previously described and wheel units C are mountedon the four corners of frame A. Then the boat is wheeled to its displayposition and the wheel units C removed the same as described in movingthe boat into the dealers display room.

As previously mentioned. the frame A may be adapted to other types ofobjects to be transported. stored or put on display and the generaloperating procedure is the same as described above for handling a boat.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same maybeused. what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A dolly comprising a ground supported load carrying frame. aplurality of wheel units. connecting means on the periphery of saidframe engageable with said wheel units to connect said wheel units tosaid frame while said frame and wheel units are resting on the ground.and jack means in said wheel units for lifting said frame off the groundso that said frame and load may be moved about on said wheel units. saidconnecting means comprising sockets in said frame and a connectingmember on each wheel unit insertable in one of said sockets. saidsockets comprising the open ends of hollow horizontal beams in saidframe. and said connecting member on each wheel unit comprising ahorizontal arm insertable into one of said hollow beams. said horizontalarm on each of said wheel units comprising the lower end ofa bent armhaving an upwardly extending upper end. said jack means being operableon said upper end of said bent arm. said upper end of said bent armmaking an angle of approximately with respect to said horizontal lowerend. and said jack means comprising a screw jack with hand crank.

2. A dolly as defined in claim 1. said hollow beams comprising a pair ofcross members at opposite ends of said frame. said cross members beingadapted to rest on the ground. and a pair of longitudinal members insaid frame connected at their ends to said cross members. saidlongitudinal members being spaced above ground level to receive liftingmeans under the longitudinal members.

3. A dolly as defined in claim 2 including clamps for securing saidframe cross members to a pair of longitudinal l-beams on atransportation vehicle: each clamp comprising a pair of (-shaped sidemembers adapted to straddle one of said cross members and engage underthe top flange of one of said l-hcams. a top plate portioninterconnecting said C-shaped side members and adapted to overlie saidcross member. a top clamp plate under said top plate portion. and ascrew in said top plate portion arranged to clamp said clamp plateagainst the top of said cross member.

4. A dolly as defined in claim 1 including rests on said frame forsupporting a boat. and tie-down means for securing the boat to saidframe.

5. A frame structure adapted to rest on the ground. a plurality ofhorizontal tubular sockets in said frame structure directed outwardlytherefrom. a plurality of wheel units having caster wheels. a horizontalarm on each wheel unit arranged to slide into and out of one of saidsockets while said frame structure is resting on the ground. an upwardlyextending arm on each wheel 0 jack means.

7. The invention of claim 5, said horizontal arm and upwardly extendingarm comprising opposite end portions of a single bent arm.

8. The invention of claim 5, said upwardly extending arm making an angleof approximately with respect to said horizontal arm.

9. The invention of claim 5, said jack means comprising a screw jackwith hand crank.

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1. A dolly comprising a ground supported load carrying frame, aplurality of wheel units, connecting means on the periphery of saidframe engageable with said wheel units to connect said wheel units tosaid frame while said frame and wheel units are resting on the ground,and jack means in said wheel units for lifting said frame off the groundso that said frame and load may be moved about on said wheel units, saidconnecting means comprising sockets in said frame and a connectingmember on each wheel unit insertable in one of said sockets, saidsockets comprising the open ends of hollow horizontal beams in saidframe, and said connecting member on each wheel unit comprising ahorizontal arm insertable into one of said hollow beams, said horizontalarm on each of said wheel units comprising the lower end of a bent armhaving an upwardly extending upper end, said jack means being operableon said upper end of said bent arm, said upper end of said bent armmaking an angle of approximately 135* with respect to said horizontallower end, and said jack means comprising a screw jack with hand crank.2. A dolly as defined in claim 1, said hollow beams comprising a pair ofcross members at opposite ends of said frame, said cross members beingadapted to rest on the ground, and a pair of longitudinal members insaid frame connected at their ends to said cross members, saidlongitudinal members being spaced above ground level to receive liftingmeans under the longitudinal members.
 3. A dolly as defined in claim 2including clamps for securing said frame cross members to a pair oflongitudinal I-beams on a transportation vehicle; each clamp comprisinga pair of C-shaped side members adapted to straddle one of said crossmembers and engage under the top flange of one of said I-beams, a topplate portion interconnecting said C-shaped side members and adapted tooverlie said cross member, a top clamp plate under said top plateportion, and a screw in said top plate portion arranged to clamp saidclamp plate against the top of said cross member.
 4. A dolly as definedin claim 1 including rests on said frame for supporting a boat, andtie-down means for securing the boat to said frame.
 5. A frame structureadapted to rest on the ground, a plurality of horizontal tubular socketsin said frame structure directed outwardly therefrom, a plurality ofwheel units having caster wheels, a horizontal arm on each wheel unitarranged to slide into and out of one of said sockets while said framestructure is resting on the ground, an upwardly extending arm on eachwheel unit, said caster wheels being slidable upward and downward alongsaid upwardly extending arm, and jack means in said upwardly extendingarm operable on said caster wheels to lift said frame structure off theground so that said frame structure may be moved in any Direction onsaid wheels.
 6. The invention of claim 5, said horizontal arms beingretained in said sockets by frictional engagement therewith when saidframe structure is lifted by said jack means.
 7. The invention of claim5, said horizontal arm and upwardly extending arm comprising oppositeend portions of a single bent arm.
 8. The invention of claim 5, saidupwardly extending arm making an angle of approximately 135* withrespect to said horizontal arm.
 9. The invention of claim 5, said jackmeans comprising a screw jack with hand crank.